The state Fraternal Order of Police came out this morning against the House bill that ties desperately-needed Philadelphia budget issues to sweeping changes in the state's pension system.
FOP Pennsylvania State Lodge President Les Neri said House Bill 1828, which calls for a state-takeover of severely distressed pension funds and removes significant pension benefits from collective bargaining, threatens thousands of police officers and firefighters' retirements and "ends 40 years of collective bargaining."
Neri chided the Senate for ramming major changes in the matter of a few weeks, tied to Philadelphia's request for a 1-cent per dollar increase in its sales tax, and changes to its own pension system.
Both the FOP and state Professional Firefighters Association have come out against the bill, which is drawing heat from organized labor across the board.
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Neri can't blame the Senate for "ramming" the process -- the Ink and DN called for the GOP to "stop holding the city hostage" and similar editorial cries. No piece explored the cost to the economy locally of a sales tax hike, or examined the proposed amendments affect on the unions' pension and benefits with a terribly close read, except for the HICH folks, maybe the Clout people. There are two sides to this, and the best decision is not going to come out bombast, but careful consideration.— CleanupPhilly- Neri has to remember that the people "ramming" this anywhere are Democrats from Philly, both in the local city government, and in the Philly state legislators. Plus, add the Editorial Boards of the Ink and DN.— CleanupPhilly
- The Senate might only accept that uniformed city employees are removed from pension reform, but that's not what Pileggi so far has signaled.— CleanupPhilly
- I don't think either paper has done a fair job yet of asking the question which is better -- to limit pensions to this degree or to cut the raft of city government and services provided as though the city was not just a local government, but a state and federally funded agency? Why not let's look at what the real Plan C contains, absent the hype, and see if it is not in fact better to cut whole programs that are not the proper province of local government? Let's cut corrupt programs that reject ethics reform. Let's get started on what Nutter promised during his campaign.— CleanupPhilly
- I think they should stop DROP for the present city council members and leave the city employees pension alone.— cecelia
Comment removed.- The city unions are a part of the problem. Something needs to be done.— psyrus
- They should cut all govt pensions except for cops and fireman but raise the retirement age for them to 55-57. There is no reason a govt clerk or POS city councilman should be covered by a very very generous pension plan.— justablogger99
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